GRID Polar Division News

Thawing permafrost, melting sea ice and significant changes in natural resources demand a comprehensive sustainable development plan.

Message from UNEP on the polar regions, the polar year and the role of UNEP

As part of its continuing efforts to raise global awareness about the effects of climate change, UNEP will release Global Outlook for Ice & Snow at the outset of the International Polar Year 2007-2008. This new analysis will focus on the changes in ice-and snow-covered regions and highlight the consequences of those changes for the global community.

Global Environment Outlook Year Book 2007 Launched at UNEP’s 24th Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum

New data for 2005 published by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) confirm the trend of accelerated ice loss during the past two and a half decades.

The Arendal Seminar on Multilateral Environmental Agreements and their relevance to the Arctic was held in Arendal, Norway on Sept 21-22 2006. Recommendations and results from the seminar, stakeholder presentations and the overview report are available on the outputs web-page

Arctic conservation maps now include the Faroe Islands and the Commander Islands. Cartography and data editing prepared by GRID-Arendal.

It’s with great pleasure we announce that GRID-Arendal has appointed new Managing Director. Dr. Peter Prokosch comes from a long career in WWF, where he since 2002 has held the position as Chief Executive Officer of WWF Germany in Frankfurt. From 1992 to 2001 Prokosch was Director of WWF International’s Arctic Programme in Oslo, Norway.

To mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (9 August), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is announcing a unique programme that draws upon indigenous knowledge to help deal with natural disasters.

UNEP supported polar expedition departs on unique voyage of science and exploration